While in the days of the metal mining boom Arizona was home to a healthy radical workers movement, in the aftermath of World War One, the collapse of the mines and state repression made it a veritable no-go land for the left. In the 1932 the Communist Party is (re)established in Arizona on the emergence of an unemployed movement early in the Great Depression.

‘Arizona: The Party After Seven Months’ from The Daily Worker. Vol. 9 No. 248. October 17, 1932.

ONLY seven months ago Arizona was unknown quantity as far as the revolutionary movement is concerned. In January, 1932, there were no Party units, not a single Party member, nor any other branch of the revolutionary organizations, only a few readers of the Daily Worker. At present we have two Party units in Phoenix, one in Tucson and one Glendale. We are selling ten Daily Workers a day and 30 Western workers in Phoenix and 10 Daily Workers in Tucson, as well as other Party literature. In the last five months over 250 workers registered support of the Unemployed Council, which has several neighborhood councils.

OBJECTIVE SITUATION

The main industries of Arizona, are copper and mining and agriculture. The copper industry, because of over production, is almost at a stand-still. All the mines which formerly employed over 1,000 miners are now either completely shut down (Inspiration Mine, Miami Copper, Old Dominion etc.), or operate with the maintenance crew only. The smelters in Miami, Globe, Morency and Bisbee are completely closed. In Douglas, where the smelters formerly employed over 800 workers, operate at present with only 40 workers. The few pennies that the miners saved up for a ‘‘rainy day” were stolen from them by the bankers. In Superior, Miami and Globe, the same week that the mines were shut down the banks closed their doors.

IN THE agricultural industry the conditions are just as miserable. In addition to the other evils of capitalism like high taxes, mortgages, usuary interest rates etc., there is in Arizona an additional problem of exorbitant cost of irrigation from $4.00 to $22.00 (near Tucson). When the price went down to 6 cents per lb. last year, thousands of farmers went bankrupt. Even the Farm Buro admits that 50 per cent of Arizona farmers are on the verge of bankruptcy. The wages of agricultural workers are as low as 10 cents per hour.

PARTY WEAK ORGANIZATIONALLY

These are the objective conditions that the C.P. has to work in. Have we equaled our task in this favorable situation? By no means! In spite of the spontaneous achievements that the Party and Unemployed Council have made in the brief period of the last seven months, for instance; the May Day demonstration of 2,000 workers, mass demonstration in front of the state capitol, Maricopa County Hunger March of 400 on June 29; Foster’s meeting of 1,500 the same day, collecting 2,000 names and” officially placing the Party on the ballot in Arizona, yet from the organizational stand point, we are still very weak.

MAIN SHORTCOMINGS

The Section Committee, which was organized recently, is still inexperienced and lacks in initiative and firmness in action. The attendance of the unit meetings and the dues payments is very low in comparison with the number of Party applicants. The Party units, especially the new ones in Phoenix, lack leadership and initiative, the Unemployed Councils’ attendance has also dwindled down during the summer months, and in the main experiences the same organizational shortcomings as the Party units do. There is almost no difference between the Party and the Unemployed Council leadership, which is very wrong, if the latter is to become a mass organization with definite tasks to perform. All these weaknesses and shortcomings are a result of the fact that the Party organization is still very young in Arizona.

TASKS OF PARTY

First and foremost to establish a firm and capable section leadership. To develop the initiative and promotion to leadership of new cadres of functionaries, by giving them responsible jobs in the units. To establish Party training classes in the cities where Party units exist. To encourage every member to attend these classes and to read the Party literature.

With the coming of the winter months the suffering of the unemployed will increase greatly. The Unemployed Councils should be immediately organized and be placed on the correct basis of Block Committees. To promote to the leadership rank and file workers, who are not yet Party members. To organize in the coming three months at least 20 Block Committees (10 in Phoenix, 5 in Tucson and 5 in new towns.) Every Party unit must take the initiative in organizing the Block Committees in its own territory—to interconnect, the work among the unemployed with the Election campaign.

We must, organize an intensive drive throughout the state for the general elections, send out various candidates to every important town in the state to address mass meeting and to build “Vote Communist Clubs.” To distribute at least 25,000 of the Party State Election Platform. Our slogan during this campaign must be at least 2,000 votes for our candidates, 50 new Party members.

WE MUST also resolve to establish functioning branches of the Young Communist League, the International Labor Defense, the Trade Union Unity League, League of Struggle for Negro Rights, as well as groups among the Spanish speaking workers.

These tasks are not too big In view of the existing conditions and

the readiness of the masses to struggle. The Section convention is confident that with cooperation of the District Committee and the mobilization of the entire Party membership, we will be able to overcome all our weaknesses and shortcomings, and will go forward with Bolshevik determination toward the establishment of a mass revolutionary movement in Arizona.

The Daily Worker began in 1924 and was published in New York City by the Communist Party US and its predecessor organizations. Among the most long-lasting and important left publications in US history, it had a circulation of 35,000 at its peak. The Daily Worker came from The Ohio Socialist, published by the Left Wing-dominated Socialist Party of Ohio in Cleveland from 1917 to November 1919, when it became became The Toiler, paper of the Communist Labor Party. In December 1921 the above-ground Workers Party of America merged the Toiler with the paper Workers Council to found The Worker, which became The Daily Worker beginning January 13, 1924. National and City (New York and environs) editions exist

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/dailyworker/1932/v09-n248-NY-oct-17-1932-DW-LOC.pdf